Chapter 2

Level Up Heretic Judge – Episode 2 (2/227)

Episode 2: The Chosen One (1)

“Phew…”

A man stood with his eyes closed, taking a deep breath.

His name was Kim Woojin.

Despite having messy, untidy hair, he was a guy with a fairly impressive background.

In his mid-twenties, his official job title was… unemployed.

Born and raised solo, living alone in a run-down apartment with cheap rent after graduating high school, working random part-time gigs. No family left after an accident, no inheritance either. Never had the brain for studying, too busy scraping together living expenses to even think about dating or student loans. Just surviving by hopping between odd jobs and construction sites, aimlessly drifting through life.

But…

“Finally!”

Crammed into his tiny room was the brand-new connection device, proudly claiming its space. Woojin stared down at it with a dazzled expression.

Sure, some might say it’s extravagant for his situation, but right now, he didn’t care. Back in his school days, he’d been absolutely obsessed with gaming, so when VR games first came out, not being able to play due to financial constraints was a lifelong regret. Even when he finally saved up enough to buy a device, hoping against hope to dive into the VR world, his dreams were shattered—thanks to his body’s severe incompatibility with VR tech.

Most VR games connected directly to your brainwaves, carrying inherent risks like dizziness, character control malfunctions, or even full-blown shock reactions. And poor Woojin? He was one of those rare individuals whose body outright rejected VR technology altogether. After scrimping and saving to buy the device, only to find it useless, the disappointment was crushing—even though he did manage to get a refund.

“For years, I couldn’t even touch VR games… but not anymore!”

Everything changed last year with the arrival of *Warode*. This game wasn’t just any game—it was revolutionary. With its unmatched gameplay and cutting-edge AI systems, it quickly absorbed users from all other VR games, rendering them obsolete and dominating the market entirely. And despite its massive user base, there hadn’t been a single reported case of side effects or errors worldwide. The developers were confident enough to use the word “absolutely” safe without hesitation.

Even Woojin, with his unique physical condition, passed the pre-game stability test with flying colors—a first in his life! Though it took him over a year post-launch to scrape together enough cash, the thrill of finally diving into what many considered the pinnacle of gaming was exhilarating beyond belief.

Though far from the wild gaming binges of his youth, this would be the perfect hobby to unwind after long, grueling days.

“Come on… come on, start already!”

The setup was complete. Woojin quickly approached the device and powered it on. Moments later, as he lay back comfortably, his consciousness began to drift away, closing his eyes peacefully.

* * *

[Welcome to Warode!]

[Verification process in progress…]

[User ID: KR8784638]

[Identity confirmed.]

“Yes!” Woojin clenched his fist triumphantly.

Opening his eyes, instead of his room, he found himself face-to-face with an expansive grassy meadow. A refreshing breeze brushed past his cheeks, leaving him utterly amazed. Even in the brief waiting area before fully logging in, the sensation of the virtual reality environment felt astonishingly vivid—something he’d never experienced before.

Realizing others had enjoyed this kind of immersion for years while he was left out made him feel like he’d lost half his life.

[Entering the world…]

[Enjoy your playtime today!]

Whoosh!

The scenery of the meadow slipped backward and faded into darkness, enveloping him in an abyss of blackness. Floating aimlessly, Woojin tried to calm his excitement and patiently waited for the game to load. Imagining the upcoming scenes filled him with anticipation.

“Hmm… is it still loading?”

After a moment, Woojin started to murmur curiously. Unlike older games that required lengthy boot-up times, Warode was renowned for its near-instantaneous connection speed—so short it was barely noticeable. Yet something felt off.

As five minutes stretched into ten, then fifteen, Woojin realized something was definitely wrong.

“There’s no way it should take this long!”

Frustrated, he flailed around in the void, trying everything—menus, settings, even the emergency logout function—but nothing worked. A cold sweat broke out as panic set in.

“Get me out of here! Somebody help! Please let me out!”

He shouted desperately, clinging to the faint hope someone might be monitoring. But Warode prided itself on being fully managed by advanced AI, with no human operators overseeing gameplay.

“No… this can’t be happening. Someone will come soon…”

Though aware of the facts, Woojin refused to accept the grim reality staring him in the face. Denial was easier than confronting the possibility of being trapped indefinitely—or worse.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, he wiped away tears streaming down his face.

“This… this isn’t supposed to happen…”

Regret crept in as he questioned his decision to start this game. Anger soon followed, directed squarely at the developers.

“You bastards! You said I passed all the safety checks! I’ll make you pay if I ever get out of here!”

Fuming, he wildly swung his arms in the empty void.

“Goddammit…”

Fear began to creep in next. The oppressive silence of the dark void felt suffocating, every shadow threatening to spring alive. Scenes from horror movies he’d once laughed through now haunted his mind, amplifying his terror.

The eerie silence drove him mad, pressing down on his psyche like a heavy weight. Gradually accepting his predicament, Woojin slumped into despair.

“Am I really stuck here? Am I going to die like this?”

No one shared his tiny apartment; no close friends would rush over if he missed a few calls. At best, the convenience store manager might send a text berating him for missing shifts. Slowly resigning himself to fate, Woojin stopped fighting and surrendered to the void.

Trapped in the virtual prison, awaiting starvation, time dragged on—half an hour, one hour, two hours. What might seem like a short span felt endless in the pitch-black emptiness.

“Is there even a way out? Am I really going to die here?”

With no rescue in sight, Woojin collapsed onto the floor, clutching his chest as his heart pounded uncontrollably. Finally, he clasped his hands together.

“Please…”

An avowed atheist who’d only attended church once as a child, Woojin now prayed fervently, grasping at straws.

“God, Buddha, Jesus, Allah, all the gods out there! Please… please save me! Whoever you are, just get me out of here, and I’ll believe in you forever! I want to live—I really, truly do!”

His voice cracked as emotions overwhelmed him, reducing his words to broken sobs. Despite his complaints about life, the thought of death terrified him deeply. His desperate plea radiated raw sincerity.

Suddenly, a blinding white light erupted before his eyes.

Though intense, it didn’t hurt to look directly at it. Instead, it filled Woojin with renewed strength, lifting him from his despondency. Within the radiant glow, a figure emerged.

“What… what is this…?”

A breathtakingly beautiful woman materialized before him. Unrealistically perfect features, porcelain-white skin, flowing golden hair cascading down her back. Clad in shimmering silver armor and wielding an elegant longsword, she exuded righteousness and power.

Before Woojin could speak, the goddess opened her mouth, though her voice crackled with interference.

“Yo… u… un… der… stan…d…”

Her speech was choppy and distorted, but her warm smile conveyed kindness. Then, clearer than before, her final words reached his ears.

“Thank you.”

With a gentle touch of her finger to his forehead, a surge of pure white light enveloped him. Woojin struggled against the overwhelming sensation, feeling himself being yanked free.

Ssshhk!

The connection pod’s hatch slid open, ejecting Woojin’s torso reflexively.

“Haaah… haaah… haaah…”

Panting heavily, Woojin looked around groggily, tears streaming down his face. It was his beloved yet modest home.

“I… I’m alive…?”